Mercy

Our Father God, all of our needs lead us to you. From your mercy we draw our strength. Grant us the ability to be as merciful toward others as you have been toward us. Receive our gifts as expressions of our love and devotion. In the name of Christ our Redeemer we pray. Amen.

Introduction

John Wesley visited General Oglethorpe when he was governor of the colony of Georgia. The general mentioned an incident involving a man who had angered him, and remarked, “I shall never forgive him!”

Wesley answered, “Then I hope, sir, you never sin.”

Evidently Wesley was reminded of Jesus’ teaching that those who are not merciful and forgiving will not be treated with mercy and forgiveness.

Living without mercy is the prelude to dying without mercy.

On the other hand, living with mercy results in being treated with mercy. As Jesus said it, “Blessed [happy] are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”

This beatitude raises three very practical questions: What is mercy? How can I become merciful? And what can I expect as a result? Finding the answer to these questions is the way to happiness.

What is mercy?

Of the more than 180 times in which mercy appears in the Old Testament, the King James Version translates it 96 times as “mercy,” 38 times as “kindness,” and 30 times as “lovingkindness.”

Mercy is not emotionalism.

Mercy is not a feeling. To be merciful is not based on whatever feelings you have about someone. This matters: Our feelings are often very sinful or weak.

We can have feelings of anger or frustarion or even hate in times of great stress, and if you live and act based on thos feelings you will more than likley be vengful and not merciful.

You need to hear this: You dont need to like someone to be mefiful to them. You can even boarderline hate them and still be merciful.

Mercy is often counter to our flesh.

Mercy is not humanitarianism.

1 Corinthians 13:3 AV

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Mercy goes beyond handing out used clothes to flood victims or food to the elderly. It is possible to give your body to be burned and not have love.

Acts of mercy that are void of an attitude of mercy are invalid. The mercy of which Christ spoke is far more than the mechanics of doing good.

Mercy is an attitude.

It is not something that can be “turned on and off” at will.

Mercy is more than end-of-the-year giving to the church for tax purposes.

Mercy, as demonstrated by Christ, involves the way a person truly feels.

It is an underlying attitude of life. Mercy is to see others as Christ sees them and feel toward others as he feels toward them. In short, mercy is to have the attitude of Christ toward everyone.

Micah 6:8 AV

8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Mercy is action.

Mercy is equally action.

If we have an attitude of mercy, we will perform deeds of mercy.

When springtime comes, it cannot be kept a secret. It expresses itself through blossoming buds and singing birds.

And when the springtime of mercy is in our hearts, it makes itself known in a multitude of ways. When mercy is translated into action, we are kind and gracious in our judgment of others.

We look for the best in others. We ask ourselves, “What circumstances led this person to do wrong?” rather than, “How can I expose or punish the wrongdoer?”

Redemption, not condemnation, will be our concern.

Mercy that is action ministers to others.

Those who are merciful dare to help lighten others’ loads. Mercy that is action forgives others. Perhaps there is no greater expression of love than forgiveness. When you have every right to be resentful but choose to forgive, you experience happiness that only mercy can bring.

How can I become merciful?

“Blessed are the merciful”—that is good, but how can I become merciful? I find it so easy to criticize. How can I change?

Remember your own need of mercy.

We often make mistakes that require God’s mercy, so we should be merciful to others. Paul reminds us to watch our own actions when we become aware of another who “is caught in a sin”

Galatians 6:1 AV

1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Become more acquainted with anyone you are inclined to judge.

Chances are you really do not know that person very well.

The word prejudice means “prejudging,” or making an estimate of others without knowing the facts.

We frequently do this without knowing the person at all!

1 Corinthians 4:5 AV

5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

John 7:24 AV

24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

It is easy to be unrelenting in our judgment of those we do not know, so we need to become better acquainted with others’ backgrounds, the problems they face, and the reasons for the scars they bear.

Allow Christ to show his mercy through you.

“Christ in you, the hope of glory” is the affirmation of Colossians 1:27.

And Christ in you is your only hope of becoming a loving, merciful person. As you surrender your bitterness and resentment to Christ and allow him to live and work freely through you, mercy becomes a normal attitude of life.

What can I expect as a result?

“For they shall obtain mercy” is the promise attached to this beatitude (Matt. 5:7). The mercy that comes to those who are merciful includes the following:

Peace within yourself.

You are well on your way to a happy life when you allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse you of stubbornness and unforgiveness.

Hebrews 12:15 AV

15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Mercy from others.

In many ways life is like a mirror. Life reflects what you put into it.

If we are unkind, life becomes unkind. If we judge others, we will be judged by others. On the other hand, love produces love and mercy produces mercy.

Galatians 6:7 AV

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Matthew 7:12 AV

12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Mercy from God.

To the extent that we forgive others, we are forgiven by God (Matt. 6:14–15). Therefore the “merciful shall obtain mercy.”

Matthew 7:2 AV

2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

We cannot forget that we will be judged by God, not for our sins, They have been forgiven but our attitude towards others will be judged.

James 2:13 AV

13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

Conclusion

The world desperately needs to see mercy in action. Why not be merciful this week? You will be blessed and happy, and many other people will be happy also!

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